Emergency alert issued for Killarney after heavy rainfall causes flash flooding

Residents across Killarney and its surrounding areas are being urged to remain alert as heavy rainfall causes flash flooding, with the rest of the region now put on flood watch. SEE FULL LIST OF ROAD CLOSURES:

An emergency alert has been issued for Killarney residents and the wider Southern Downs is now on flood watch as heavy rainfall across the region causes flash flooding and begins to impact waterways.

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services sent out the Killarney warning at 3.30pm Thursday, saying flash flooding was occurring within the Southern Downs Regional Council area following significant rain over the past several days.

Data from the Bureau of Meteorology indicates that Queen Mary Falls has recorded 74mm within the past 24 hours, with another 69mm at The Head and 61mm at Spring Creek Rd in the same period.

Warwick has received just under 10mm in the same 24 hours.

The increasing rainfall across the region and wider southeast Queensland has sparked a flood watch warning from BOM, suggesting minor to moderate flooding across the impacted areas was possible from Friday.

“Widespread rainfall and stream showers (are) expected across the flood watch area with a risk of isolated thunderstorms across northern parts,” the warning read.

“Catchments in the flood watch area ae generally saturated from rainfall over the last few days and weeks. Smaller creeks and tributaries may respond rapidly to further rainfall.

“The situation will be monitored closely and further flood warnings will be issued where required.”

The Condamine River, with an emphasis on the upper part of the river, has been listed as one of 17 waterways currently at risk of flooding.

BOM data as of 3.37pm Thursday indicates the Condamine River at Warwick is currently at 3.41m and rising, and was also still filling at several other points including The Head and Killarney.

Current predictions suggest the Warwick area could receive up to another 30mm on Friday.

The flooding threat comes just over a month after Warwick and its surrounds last saw the river peak at 6.46m, falling short of the major flood levels predicted.

Several roads across the Southern Downs are currently cut off by floodwaters. See the full list below:

Victoria St, Warwick

Backhouse Rd, Killarney

Condamine River Rd, Killarney

Connells Bridge Rd, Bony Mountain Rd

Wheatvale Plains Rd, Upper Wheatvale

Hermitage Emu Vale Rd, Danderoo

Strudwick Rd, Yangan

Massie Bony Mountain Rd, Massie

Kirkland Rd, Massie

Clintonvale Goomburra Rd, Gladfield

Doyle Rd, Gladfield